What Katrina Can Teach Us About Leadership
There's a new buzzword in the leadership world; it is the "post-Katrina" era. Leadership theorists acknowledge that many of the lessons gleaned from Wall Street and Silicon Valley have been invaluable to the people of New Orleans, a city that has been transformed by Hurricane Katrina.
In order to help readers understand these new lessons, this blog post will discuss how leadership was affected by Hurricane Katrina and what it can teach us about being leaders. Additionally, this article will explore some groups of leaders who implemented different approaches to recovery and how they were able to succeed with their approach.
Hurricane Katrina, the most destructive storm in American history, decimated the Mississippi and Louisiana coast from August 23, 2005 and caused significant devastation throughout several states. According to USA Today, Hurricane Katrina claimed nearly 2,000 lives and damaged over 1.5 million homes. The Gulf Coast was hit especially hard but New Orleans suffered more devastation than anywhere else. Seventy percent of the city was destroyed by floods and 80 percent of New Orleans is still considered a "disaster zone."
The storm also exposed serious problems in our government's response to a natural disaster. The Bush administration, prior to the storm, was warned that New Orleans was unprepared for a strong hurricane. Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management agency (FEMA) was underfunded and understaffed in order to handle any large scale disasters.
Therefore, after Hurricane Katrina, leaders were forced to develop new approaches to leadership in order to handle this unprecedented disaster. Although it is impossible to say that all of these approaches are directly related to Hurricane Katrina, they have emerged as common themes among leaders on the front lines of this disaster.
Leadership Lessons From Hurricane Katrina: Service is a Moral Obligation
One of the biggest lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina is that leaders will always be remembered for their actions during times of crisis. It has been noted by leadership experts that, since Hurricane Katrina, a major change has occurred within the world of leadership. Those who have been involved with disaster relief have become outspoken advocates for those who are still suffering.
In these interviews, leaders have been quoted as saying that they wanted to use their talents to help others after Hurricane Katrina because they just didn't know what else to do. Domnick's article in The Leader in Me states that some of these leaders feel an "obligation and responsibility" towards others who are suffering because they witnessed the heroics of the first responders. In other words, service is a moral obligation and it gives you "the inner freedom" that allows you to be a leader.
This new approach to leadership has led these leaders to take on a "service-first" mentality. They have become advocates for those in need because they know that the service they are providing will benefit countless others who are still suffering and desperate for help.
In other words, if you want to be a leader and make an impact, don't just focus on yourself or your own needs and interests. Become an advocate for others that need assistance. According to Domnick in The Leader in Me, advocating for others is not only a moral obligation but it leads you to "do what you do best." Moral obligations give you the inner freedom needed to succeed as a leader.
Leadership Lessons From Hurricane Katrina: Passion is Key
Another leadership lesson from Hurricane Katrina is that passion is one of the most important tools in your leadership toolbelt. Many leaders on the front lines of the storm have said that they "feel privileged" to be part of the recovery and this sense of excitement gives them energy and a higher purpose. These leaders are not just doing a job; they want to make a difference in other peoples' lives. They want to answer calls for help and be perceived as heroes who were able to save lives during this "national tragedy."
These leaders care deeply about their cause or organization because it is something that they truly believe in, so they have found their passion through working with different organizations. These leaders have been recognized for their leadership skills in crisis and their ability to "extract the best from others" during this difficult time.
By possessing passion, these leaders have been able to turn their "lives upside down" in order to recover and help others. In other words, if you want to be a leader and make an impact, find your passion so you can do more than just a job. Passion allows you to work hard, feel energized and make a difference in the lives of others at the same time. Passion can be a great tool for turning your life around.
Leadership Lessons From Hurricane Katrina: The First Step is Usually the Hardest
One of the most important leadership lessons from Hurricane Katrina is that "the first step is usually the hardest." This statement was made by a member of the AmeriCorps, an organization that has been praised for its incredible work to recover cities like New Orleans. The AmeriCorps have documented their achievements on their website and have received awards for being one of the most effective organizations in helping to rebuild New Orleans.
The AmeriCorps consist mostly of young people who are new to community service work and needed some guidance on how to be leaders during this unprecedented crisis. The AmeriCorps have credited their success to the leadership of the veteran volunteers because they were able to mentor and inspire others to help in any way they can.
These AmeriCorps members have learned that a "small action" can make a huge difference when working with a team. These volunteer leaders are told by their supervisors to "do what you love" and "what you do best" because it will be your own personal passion, skills and knowledge of the community that will make the biggest impact.
Therefore, if you want to become a leader, take the first step, even if it is hard. Don't delay anything and just get started. The first step is usually the hardest, but it's a necessary one if you want to make an impact. First steps are difficult at times but they can translate into huge successes once you get over that first hurdle.
Final Thoughts on Leadership Lessons from Hurricane Katrina
The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and the leadership lessons learned from this disaster have left a lasting impact on our world today. It has been shown that leaders can learn valuable lessons about leadership and teamwork during crisis situations, such as Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy and others.
If you have a passion for making a difference in your community, you can become a leader. It's all about finding what motivates you and what makes you feel energized. Make this your mission and invest time and energy into it, so you can "do what you love" every day. Don't wait for the perfect time to do something; take the first step every day and make a difference in the world today.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed these leadership lessons from Hurricane Katrina! If you enjoyed this list, I encourage you to share it with your friends on social media. You can also follow my blog and connect with me on social media. I would love to hear from you and what your thoughts are about leadership and following a cause you believe in.
I am interested in hearing how these leadership lessons apply to your own life, so please comment below or connect with me directly on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.